Luzon Urban Beltway Infrastructure Conference

President Arroyo's Statement at the Luzon Urban Beltway Infrastructure Conference

In last year's State of the Nation Address, I unveiled the Super Regions - Central Philippines, North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle, Luzon Urban Beltway, Cyber Corridor and Mindanao - where development must spread, away from an unhealthy and inequitable concentration in Metro Manila.

It was not just a gimmick for the occasion but the blueprint of the only viable future.

Our Super Regions strategy is doing great for the Luzon Urban Beltway.

The Subic-Clark-Tarlac Express Road is in its final stages. This first-world motorway will cut travel time between Clark and Subic from two hours to 30 minutes. Clark Airport got its radar approach control in April. Although it will open its new passenger terminal in January, it already has 50 international flights a week, the second busiest after NAIA.

We just came from Cubi Point where we inaugurated a new world-class container port that will make the Subic Bay Freeport together with the Clark Freeport one of the best international service and logistics centers in the region.

In my State of the Nation Address last year, I said we would connect North Luzon and South Luzon Expressways through C-5.

Ginagawa na ang C-5 mula sa Katipunan. Kausap na ang UP para sa ibubutas na daan patungong Commonwealth, na kasalukuyang nilalaparan. Sa kabila ng Mindanao Avenue (sa Quezon City), binibili na ang lupang daraanan mula Barangay Talipapa (Novaliches) hanggang Malinta (Valenzuela City) kabit na ng NLEX.

On the South Expressway we are widening Alabang Viaduct up to Santo Tomas, Batangas. By March, SLEX will extend all the way to Batangas Port through the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road.

I'm sure everyone wants to know about NAIA Airport Terminal 3. The ceiling that fell wasn't the only thing in danger of falling. Intrusive inspection revealed that the airport cannot withstand an Intensity VI earthquake. The contractor took so long to start the remedial work that government sent a termination notice. Now it's back, taking responsibility for the structural defects. We have pinned them down to complete the work by this year's end. Or else.

More modern airports mean more work for the ATO (Air Transportation Office). I am submitting a priority administration measure creating the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. Public safety comes first.

With regard to energy and power, Luzon needs 150 megawatts additional by 2010. This will be covered by the announced 350-megawatt, $350-million expansion of the Pagbilao plant by Marubeni and Tokyo Electric, part of their $4 billion that constitutes the biggest Japanese investment in Philippine history.

Only four percent of Luzon's power comes from oil. Yet power rates are high. I will ask Congress to amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act for open access and more competition.

Our resolve to provide the necessary infrastructure for growth and prosperity has heightened investors' confidence in our capability to slug it out in the global arena such as the US$1.6-billion Hanjin Shipbuilding facility, considered to be the third largest in the world and the $1-billion Texas Instruments chip plant in Clark.

People need to breathe clean air while we also build manufacturing. We have closed 88 firms for polluting the environment. Public safety first, as I said.

Nagtayo tayo ng mga tangkeng maglilinis ng maruming tubig sa halagang P300 milyon, para maalis ang panganib sa apat na milyong residente ng Kamaynilaan dahil sa marumi at baradong mga ilog at estero.

Earlier this year we proclaimed a critical habitat within the coastal lagoon of Las Pinas and Paranaque.

P7 billion in investments from Maynilad's new owners is bringing clean and, at last, running water in Paranaque and other parts of its franchise area. Manila Water just completed a similar P2 billion project for Antipolo.

Ang tubig ay nagbibigay-buhay, hindi pumapatay dahil sa baha. Matapos ang maraming taong usapan at malaking gastos sa nakaraan, sa wakas ginagawa sa ilalim natin ang KAMANAVA (Kalookan-Malabon-Navotas-Valenzuela) Flood Control Project hanggang Septiyembre 2008.

Flood control in Central Luzon will continue with the P5 billion Mt. Pinatubo Hazard Urgent Mitigation Project that will protect San Fernando City, Sasmuan, Guagua, and, of course, Lubao. Who knows, I may run for Congress from my home town.

The Luzon Urban Beltway is oozing with prospects. This meeting is a testament to our seriousness and resolve to bring economic vibrancy to the super region.

To the local government units, I invite you to take an active part in the development of our Luzon Urban Beltway.

Together we shall make the Luzon Urban Beltway a globally competitive urban, industrial and services center. Let us push on with greater solidarity and focus. (OPS)